Generalization and discrimination occur
in operant conditioning in much the same way that they do in classical conditioning. In generalization, people perform a behavior
learned in one situation in other, similar situations. For example, a man who is rewarded with laughter when he tells certain
jokes at a bar may tell the same jokes at restaurants, parties, or wedding receptions. Discrimination is learning that a behavior
will be reinforced in one situation but not in another. The man may learn that telling his jokes in church or at a serious
business meeting will not make people laugh. Discriminative stimuli signal that a behavior is likely to be reinforced. The
man may learn to tell jokes only when he is at a loud, festive occasion (the discriminative stimulus). Learning when a behavior
will and will not be reinforced is an important part of operant conditioning.